Oakland Raiders: If The Unorthodox Works, Why Not Run With It?

The Raiders have never been like the rest of the NFL.

No kidding...I can hear a few fans already saying that, or something cuter.

But realize it, for all it's fun, it has worked better for this team to embrace the unorthodox.

Take a look at the team in 1980. If you were a fan back then, weren't you a little shocked when Ken Stabler was sent packing? Or Jack Tatum? Earlier in the past, John Madden left, for medical reasons, Fred Biletnikoff was gone and Al Davis had a solution for Stabler....Dan Pastorini!

Who?

Dan Pastorini, for the uninformed, was the third quarterback taken back in 1971, third player overall that year. He had the ability to air it out, something Al Davis loves. Yes, another 'no kidding' statement is warranted.

So the team goes into 1980 with a retread QB, most of the critics had us pegged for third or fourth in the division. Through the first four games, Oakland would go 2-2, until a game against Kansas City would alter our fortunes.

Dan Pastorini would go down injured, and up would step Jim Plunkett.

Right about now, how many fans out there were wondering again, what does this guy have left in the tank? Pastorini was the number three pick in the draft....Plunkett was the number one pick that year. He had won the Heisman back at Stanford. He struggled with the Patriots and then fumbled with the 49ers. He was active in four games during 1979 and was hoping for a chance to start.

During that game against Kansas City, he took over the game and threw five interceptions.

Still loyal?

At this point, the Raiders are 2-3, have lost their starting QB for the season, a rookie named Marc Wilson is deemed too young to start for the Raiders and Jim Plunkett starts the following week against the San Diego Chargers, running a high-powered offense.

Oakland would win the game, 38-24, go to .500, and then wouldn't lose another game until week 12.

As a side note, Dave Casper would go on to leave the team after the Chargers game, moving over with Stabler and Tatum with the Houston Oilers.

Somehow through all of this, the Raiders would go onto the playoffs, beat the Oilers, and win the Super Bowl over the Eagles.

Now, compare this team to the modern-day Raiders...how do you think Al Davis would handle the chaos that exists? Or for that matter, any modern day team?

Al Davis would go out, find an assortment of pieces and as the season goes on, if pieces don't work, go down with injuries, etc, the players picked up should be able to step up.

There are some teams where if a key player is lost the team would suddenly be in trouble. Do you think the Indianapolis Colts are as dangerous with Jim Sorgi as they are with Peyton Manning? Or the Seahawks, now that we've seen what happens without Matt Hasselbeck?

For the Raiders, some unorthodox thinking works quite well.